How obesity effects my everyday life

Some of these posts really hit home. How hard is it to share to the world (not many according to my counter) ... all my emotions and hardships when it comes to being overweight. The title to this post was hard for me to put up, but this post is how obesity effects me. I wrote this a little over a week ago now. Its actually for my doctor to let him know that my life as an obese person can be challenging at times. Don't get me wrong, it doesn't always rule my life, but it is a big part of it. (really, no pun intended).

How obesity effects my everyday life.
The first thing I do when I wake up in the morning is go to the restroom. Cleaning myself afterwards has become the work of a contortionist. I find it difficult to reach.

After I take a shower, I have a big towel to dry myself off. It’s a heavy towel and it wears me out. I’m breathing heavy and sometimes I’m sweating after I’m done toweling myself off.

When I get to work, I have to turn on machines and lights. It’s a short walk, but my heart is racing and I’m breathing heavy by the time I’m half way through.

Using the restroom at work is a challenge every time. I have to climb steep stairs (at least they seem steep to me) and carrying my body up the stairs is quite a chore. My legs feel like jello afterwards.

I work at a fitness center. How hypocritical is that? I show people how to use the machines, I take their body compositions, I set up programs for them, give them advice on how to work out to achieve their goals. And I look like I need to follow my own advice. I feel some people quit their membership because how can they take advice from someone who looks like me?

There are certain cars I can’t drive because I can’t fit behind the steering wheel.

When I go to the store, I have to watch out for the floor displays in the aisles. I think I’ve cleared them until I hear them crash behind me. I have lost some feeling around my stomach and hips, and I don’t know if I am rubbing against something or not. It’s quite embarrassing to bump my hip into someone else because most of the time it’s a hard hit.

Another thing that is embarrassing is sitting in chairs with arms is a tight fit. I’ve sat down in chairs that have arms, if they have wheels, the chair has been known to slide out from behind me and I end up on the floor.

I am starting to have terrible troubles clipping my toe nails. Since I’m Diabetic, I have to be careful, but I have cut them too far down on a few occasions.

I don’t like being seen, I’m embarrassed by my weight. Most people don’t treat me as if I’m overweight, but these are the people I know, my people. Someone outside of my circle treats me like a fat slob.

When I was skinny, I could get a job during the interview. I never had to wait for a call that never came. Sometimes I would start work right then. When I looked for a job as an obese person, I was always told, we’ll call. They never did. Not only do I have obesity against me, but my back as well. I have a protruding/bulging disk in my back Obesity and back problems are a double edged sword when seeking employment.

Night times are the only times that are mine. Nothing is expected of me, I’m at home, so no one can see how fat I am. I can relax and be myself.

I have a wonderful family. I know my obesity effects them almost as much as it does me. My daughter feels it the most. She is so energetic, just like I used to be. I would love to go on hikes with her. I would love to walk on the beach with her. I would love to play soccer with her. My daughter is 12. She is a big part of my life. We enjoy spending time together. It is hard on her, I can see it so much, when she wants to take a walk or just DO something and her feelings are hurt. I’m always either too tired, or the thought turns me off. We always end up staying inside and playing a game or something because I’ve become a home body.